Chapter 1582: A Man Without a Heart for His Friends

What exactly Zhao Fusheng and Ma Xiaoyun talked about, no one knew.

Even many years later, this remained a secret.

Both parties, though later wielding great power and often interviewed by the media, were tight-lipped about this meeting. Even Ma Xiaoyun refused to say a word about what Zhao Fusheng had discussed with him.

But the fact was that shortly after, the American data conglomerate IDG suddenly announced, together with Brother Capital, the acquisition of Alibaba shares.

Once this news broke, public opinion immediately became excited, with media outlets rushing to report on it, while SoftBank and Sequoia Capital had to abandon their previous plans.

Everything seemed to have calmed down.

And Zhao Fusheng's life also appeared to have returned to peace.

“I really don’t get it. Why did you ask me to contact those Americans?”

Tan Kaixuan, back from the United States to the capital, asked Zhao Fusheng with a puzzled look.

The two were at a café near the Central Academy of Drama.

“Guess.”

Zhao Fusheng revealed a mysterious smile and chuckled. “Actually, it was just for deterrence.”

“Deterrence?”

Tan Kaixuan frowned, then fell silent for a moment. “So you were just bluffing, weren’t you?”

“Not necessarily.”

Zhao Fusheng shook his head. “I wasn’t bluffing. If SoftBank had continued with their original plan, I might have really joined forces with IDG.”

Tan Kaixuan remained silent. This guy was simply cunning to an extreme degree.

“By the way, talk to those Americans and ask if they’re interested in acquiring some shares after Alibaba goes public,” Zhao Fusheng said to Tan Kaixuan.

“What are you up to?”

Tan Kaixuan looked at Zhao Fusheng suspiciously. He always felt that this guy was up to no good. Being so kind as to sell shares to the Wall Street foxes behind Brother Capital—Tan Kaixuan didn’t believe Zhao Fusheng was that benevolent.

“Nothing much.”

Zhao Fusheng said calmly, “I definitely plan to reduce my Alibaba shares. Domestically, there’s no one who can take such a large stake, so Wall Street is naturally the best choice.”

Tan Kaixuan was skeptical. To be honest, if it weren’t for their relationship, he wouldn’t believe a single word Zhao Fusheng said, because in his view, it was utterly unconvincing.

Anyone in investment could see Alibaba’s prospects. In short, it was a company poised to become China’s Amazon.

And now Zhao Fusheng intended to sell his Alibaba shares—was the guy crazy?

“Wait, you’re not joking, are you?”

Looking at Zhao Fusheng, Tan Kaixuan couldn’t hold back his doubts and asked.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged. “Of course I’m serious.”

He wasn’t joking. The development of Future Group wasn’t just about short-term gains, and Zhao Fusheng had never planned to rely solely on his foresight to acquire shares in major companies and then sit back and do nothing.

People have ambitions!

Zhao Fusheng’s ambition was even greater than others’. He longed to truly build his own career, not just depend on the foresight in his mind.

Therefore, Zhao Fusheng really needed a vast amount of wealth!

Moreover, with the advent of the internet era, there were too many places that required money. Zhao Fusheng didn’t want Future Group to be forced out due to insufficient funds.

…

…

“But speaking of which, is it appropriate for you to drag me along on your date?”

Zhao Fusheng asked Tan Kaixuan helplessly.

Tan Kaixuan grinned. “Look at you. Are we friends or not?”

“Yes.”

“Since we’re friends, of course you have to go all out for me.”

Tan Kaixuan said with a straight face.

At that moment, Zhao Fusheng really wanted to punch this guy in the face, simply because he was so infuriating.

“You’re the classic case of a man without a heart for his friends, you know that?” Zhao Fusheng complained to Tan Kaixuan.

Tan Kaixuan acted as if he hadn’t heard Zhao Fusheng’s words, staring out the window on his own.

“Bastard!”

Zhao Fusheng cursed helplessly and had no choice but to wait with him.

Soon, Tong Xiaoya and a few roommates walked into the café. She was visibly happy to see Tan Kaixuan, but the moment she saw Zhao Fusheng, she seemed somewhat nervous.

Not only her, but even her roommates all became tense.

“It’s okay, this guy doesn’t bite.”

Tan Kaixuan naturally noticed and joked.

He had originally intended to have Zhao Fusheng accompany him to avoid being too awkward alone, but now it seemed that Zhao Fusheng’s presence was the most awkward thing of all.

After all, most of the people here were artists under his management.

Zhao Fusheng wasn’t stupid. Although he was inwardly complaining about Tan Kaixuan’s almost idiotic behavior, he didn’t undermine him. Instead, he stood up and smiled. “I have some business at your school. You guys chat first.”

With that, he nodded to Tan Kaixuan and walked out the door.

Watching Zhao Fusheng leave, Tong Xiaoya’s roommates finally breathed a sigh of relief, and even Tong Xiaoya herself was no longer as tense as before.

They joked around a bit, then moved to another table to chat, leaving the space for Tong Xiaoya and Tan Kaixuan, claiming it was for their private time. But judging by their whispering, Tong Xiaoya felt that when she returned to the dorm, she would definitely be interrogated and teased by these girls.

“Why did you bring him here?”

Tong Xiaoya glared at Tan Kaixuan and said softly.

Tan Kaixuan blinked, looking innocent. “He’s my only friend, so of course I had to bring him.”

He paused and shook his head. “Don’t overthink it. He’s not the arrogant type.”

In his view, the reason Tong Xiaoya and her roommates were so bothered by Zhao Fusheng’s presence wasn’t just because he was their boss, but more importantly, because in their eyes, Zhao Fusheng was a super big shot who could decide the fate of many in the entertainment industry.

But he couldn’t help it. This was a kind of hierarchical suppression in social strata, just like how officials fear leaders from the Organization Department.

“By the way, how long can you stay this time?”

Tong Xiaoya asked Tan Kaixuan.

Tan Kaixuan shook his head. “Hard to say. Originally, I was helping Old Zhao with something, but now he has a new idea, so I might have to go back soon.”

Zhao Fusheng’s proposal just now had really stirred Tan Kaixuan’s interest. If Zhao Fusheng really intended to do that, it might indeed be a good opportunity for him.